Page 72 of Just One Bite
“Olivia – Giselle.”
There must be a mistake.
I settled on Willis as a role I could be happy with at the very least. I hadn’t let myself think of Giselle as a possibility. I’d blocked the dream from my brain, knowing it was unlikely, to save myself the despair of not receiving it.
There’s a dissatisfied echo in the ballet studio.
“Do you know the ballet?” Theo, one of the male dancers, asks from next to me. He’s the only one who will talk to me today, aside from Octavia.
Do I know it? I’ve practiced that exact variation in my room since before I was on pointe. I know the variation. I could literally do it with my eyes closed.Giselleis my favorite ballet, and the role of Giselle is the lead.
“Yes,” I say. I want to scream. I want to cheer, to tell someone. My sisters come to mind first, but I can’t tell them while the world is ending. But I’m going to burst from happiness.
I listen to the rest of the character assignments. There are two casts, one for years three and four, and another for years one and two. Fia squeals when they announce her as a lead role as an upperclassman.
My head is down as I tape my feet, and I nearly knock over Octavia as she scrambles to tidy up the room.
“Oh, Olivia, I wanted to let you know I had them clean up your locker. All of that stuff will clear up soon. I don’t ever believe half the stuff on there.”
“Thank you. I’m not used to all of this. So many people seem to know who I am here.”
“Well, get used to that. The dance world is already abuzz with the performance news. Congratulations on the lead. You might just be the youngest first-year to take that spot.”
That means all of Vviveren will know and see my name in the papers.
I don’t thaw from the shock of it till Parker saunters through the door with wet hair and sweats—not school uniform appropriate—and leans down to kiss me.
Fake kisses are supposed to be quick, but the seconds tick by as I kiss him back. We’re both enjoying this. I know it. He knows it. Only, neither of us have spoken a word about it. We’re just moving around each other like planets in a natural cadence.
“Someone’s happy.”
“I got Giselle. It’s the lead.”
He picks me up and twirls me around. “Ah, I'm so fucking proud. I don’t know who that is. But let’s celebrate so you can tell me. We can go tell your sisters—”
“No. Not right now. We need to talk first.”
I wait till everyone has funneled out of the studio, and gently wave at Octavia as she winks and closes the door behind her.
“Breaking up with me?” He smiles, pushing closer, and I walk backward until my shoulders hit the mirror. The magnetism of him hits me again, and I have to take a breath to focus.
“We do need to set ground rules.”
“Like?”
“Like maybe we shouldn’t kiss in here unless …”
“Unless there’s a reason? It feels so good to kiss you.” He leans forward till his lips rest near my forehead. “If you need more reasons, I’ve got plenty.”
I have to work hard to draw myself out of the rhythm of him against me. I know why we shouldn’t. The nagging thoughts I’ve tried to push out are back at the forefront of my mind.
“What do you know about mates?”
His brow lowers. “Like werewolf mates?”
I nod.
“Werewolves take mates by marking them with a bite …” His thumb grazes my neck. “Once that person accepts the bond, then they’re mated. Anyone can be marked as a mate. Vampires and humans included.”
